What The Heart Wants (Sebastian Vettel)

34. Aloha Christmas

Seb sat on the edge of the sofa, looking at the floor, his phone in his hand.

"Seb?" Jessie said questioningly. "Is everything ok?"

They'd been about to take their suitcases out to the car so they could head to the airport for their flight to Hawaii when his phone had rang. Jessie had gone into the kitchen to check all the appliances were switched off at the wall, and to give him some privacy. When she'd come back in she'd found him sat there in silence.

Seb looked up at her. He'd just heard some news that had surprised him, and he didn't know how he felt about it.

"That was Mattia," he said. "He called to tell me he's resigned."

"Resigned? Oh my God." She hadn't seen that one coming. Where did that leave Seb now? Who would be taking over? Mattia had been instrumental in Seb returning to Ferrari.

"Personal reasons apparently. He said Fred Vasseur will be his replacement."

Jessie sat down besides him and took his hand in hers. 

"I can't believe it.   Fred Vasseur, I don't know him.  Obviously I know of him."

"He's ok I guess. He and Charles are as thick as thieves.  I'm just hoping that this doesn't mean Charles will get preferential treatment."

"They can't do that!" Jessie exclaimed indignantly.  "Your contract..."

"I know.  I can't help worrying though.   I thought I knew exactly what I was going back to, but now everything has changed."

"But your goal remains the same right?"

"Of course."

"Then don't worry about it. Just take it a day at a time. You're the best. If they give you a car capable of winning you'll win, simple."

Seb looked at her and smiled. She always seemed to be able to cheer him up.

"I don't know what I would do without you," he told her.

"Be late for everything!"

"I am anyway!"

"True. Now come on, we'd better get a move on. We don't  want to be late for our flight. Hawaii is waiting for us."

A big smile spread across Seb's face. He couldn't wait to get Jessie alone in Hawaii. Of course they had plenty of alone time here but there it really would be just them. The villa he'd hired had a private beach, and a swimming pool. He'd paid extra to have the kitchen fully stocked for them so they wouldn't have to leave the villa or its grounds unless they wanted to. MBoth of them stood up.

"Are the chickens secure? Jessie asked.

"Yes, and Bradley is coming to feed them every day."

Bradley was the teenage son of the farmer they'd bought the chickens from. He'd been doing some odd jobs here and there for them in the garden, including helping Seb to build a suitable home for the chickens for the winter.

"I switched off all the appliances apart from the fridge and the freezer."

"I turned everything off upstairs," Seb added.

"I guess we're ready then."

"Let's go then kleine maus. Hawaii is waiting."

***

Seb looked up from his book, smiling lovingly as he saw his gorgeous girlfriend approaching him. He put the book onto the floor by the side of his sunlounger.